For the first time in the history of the Men’s World Cup, a woman will referee a match. Referee Stéphanie Frappart has been selected for the match between Germany and Costa Rica in Qatar.
This was announced by FIFA. With Neuza Back (Brazil) and Karen Diaz Medina (Mexico) will also have two assistants at the World Cup match between Germany and Costa Rica on Thursday (December 1, 2022, 8 p.m., live on Erste and on sportschau.de).
Referee at men’s World Cup – Klostermann: “Most normal in the world”
The World Cup premiere of a female referee is not a big issue for the German national team, explained defender Lukas Klostermann on Wednesday (November 30, 2022) during the press conference the day before the game. “For me it’s the most normal thing in the world, I’ve never paid attention to whether a man or a woman is whistling“, said the Leipziger and added: “She has refereed a few games in the Champions League and deserves the effort. I wish her the best.”
National coach Hansi Flick said that you have “100 percent trust”. “We’re looking forward to the game and I hope she’s just as excited.”
Next to Stephanie Frappart (France) two more referees have been nominated for the World Cup: Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda) and Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan). During the first two group match days, the three referees only acted as fourth officials. Frappart was in this role with Mexico – Poland and Portugal – Ghana in action. Mukansanga has also served as fourth official twice in the tournament so far, and Yamashita four times.
Collina on referee: “Quality counts – not gender”
“This is proof that quality, not gender, counts”said FIFA chief referee Pierluigi Collina according to a message before the tournament. “I hope that the appointment of elite female referees for important men’s competitions will soon no longer be a sensation but a matter of course.”
Frappart – already in use at UEFA for some time
Frappart was the first fourth official in the history of the European Championships at the 2021 European Championships. She was not intended to be a referee there.
In UEFA, however, she has already officiated some important games: In 2019 she officiated the UEFA Supercup game between Liverpool and Chelsea. In December 2020, she became the first woman to officiate a men’s Champions League game and has since made several appearances in the three European competitions.
A total of 36 referees in Qatar
The FIFA appointed a total of 36 arbitrators. In 2018 in Russia there were 35, in 2014 in Brazil 25. There are 69 referees on the sidelines, and 24 different people are used in the video room. The only referee from the German Football Association is Daniel Siebert with his two assistants Rafael Foltyn and Jan Seidel. Two referees from Germany are used in the video room: Bastian Dankert and Marco Fritz.
the referees are appointed for each match by the FIFA Referees Committee. The referee must not come from any country involved in the match or group. If the referee is absent, he will be replaced by the fourth official. If one of the assistants is unable to be present, they will be replaced by either the fourth official or the backup assistant referee who is to be present at each match.